Waterford Man Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison for Producing Child Pornography

Deirdre M. Daly, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, announced that RICHARD BRUNO, 47, of Waterford, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer in New Haven to 192 months of imprisonment, followed by 10 years of supervised release, for producing child pornography.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 5, 2016, the Connecticut State Police executed search warrants at BRUNO’s residence in Waterford and at his company’s warehouse located at 19 Mountain Avenue in New London.  At BRUNO’s residence, investigators seized a hard drive that was connected to a computer.  Analysis of the hard drive revealed 46 homemade videos depicting nine different females engaged in sexually explicit conduct.  Most of the videos depicted BRUNO engaging in sex acts with the females.  One of the females was 17 years old at the time.

The investigation revealed that BRUNO was the minor victim’s landlord.  BRUNO met the minor victim in approximately November 2015 and she told him she was 17.  On four occasions, BRUNO videotaped the minor victim engaged in sexual acts with him at his company’s warehouse.  For each of these sessions, BRUNO paid the minor victim in either marijuana or cash.

The investigation further revealed that BRUNO communicated with the victim using the Kik instant messaging application.  Analysis of BRUNO’s cellphone revealed messages from BRUNO to the victim, including “If you wanted to play around I get you some mon[ey].” “Or if you let me film you for a little whi[le].”

In April 2016, law enforcement initiated an undercover investigation of BRUNO in which a Connecticut State Police detective posed as a single woman with a 13-year-old daughter who was looking for an apartment to rent.  During the investigation, BRUNO engaged in text messages with the “13-year-old girl,” asked her for pictures of herself and coaxed her, with promises of money, to come to New London to engage in illicit sexual activity.  On May 19, 2016, BRUNO was arrested by New London Police detectives at the time and place he agreed to meet the “girl.”

The investigation revealed several other instances of BRUNO’s inappropriate conduct with vulnerable woman and girls, and voyeuristic videos that BRUNO took of women and girls.

BRUNO has been detained since his arrest.  On May 8, 2017, he pleaded guilty to one count of production of child pornography.

As part of his sentence, BRUNO was ordered to forfeit his company’s New London warehouse, a multi-family residence he owns at 27 West Coit Street in New London, and a van owned by his company.

Also, BRUNO has paid the victim restitution through a settlement in a separate federal civil case (Doe v. Bruno 3:17cv217).

This matter was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Connecticut State Police and New London Police Department.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nancy V. Gifford.

To report cases of child exploitation, please visit www.cybertipline.com.